Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Boston, MA

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519 FXUS61 KBOX 142358 AFDBOX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA 758 PM EDT Sat Sep 14 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Dry weather with above normal temperatures will continue for the weekend and into next week. Chances for rain comes mid to late next week, but uncertainty remains high. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SUNDAY MORNING/...
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745 PM Update... Ocean stratus already working its way inland across eastern MA. Have significantly increased sky cover in latest update as latest NAMNest handling current situation quite well. Should see the stratus/fog overspread much of central/eastern MA and RI. Only unsure in how widespread the fog will be as haven`t yet seen visibilities falling as of this update. Temps looked to be on track, but may need to increase them in future updates especially where stratus is quite widespread. Previous discussion... High pres remains in control tonight as it builds south from northern New Eng. This will provide dry weather, but will have to monitor potential stratus and fog moving westward from the ocean. There are mixed signals in the guidance regarding the extent of stratus and fog so confidence is not high. Soundings do show very shallow moisture near the ground below the inversion so we are continuing increased cloud cover for areas of stratus overnight. Lows will range through the 50s with light winds.
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&& .SHORT TERM /6 AM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... Sunday... Any stratus and fog should burn off by mid morning as shallow moisture mixes out, leading to another day with lots of sunshine and warm temps as deep later ridge builds across New Eng. However, low level temps are a bit cooler across eastern New Eng as the surface high pres builds to the east with persistent E flow. Highs will range through the 70s (coolest eastern MA coast) with lower 80s in the CT valley. It will also be a bit drier with dewpoints in the 50s. Sunday night... High pres will bring mostly clear skies and light to calm winds leading to good radiational cooling. Lows will bottom out in the lower 50s for much of the region, with some upper 40s in the colder spots in eastern MA. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... Highlights * Dry and quiet weather to start the week with a few more mild days along with cool nights. AM fog possible. * Turning unsettled mid to perhaps late in the week. Considerable uncertainty to the exact track of a system off the coast of the Carolinas. This brings the next shot for showers and more seasonable temperatures. Monday through Tuesday... A highly amplified ridge axis will initially (Mon AM) be in place from the Great Lakes region through New England into the central Atlantic, while there is a disturbance just off the Carolinas coastline. The ridge gradually builds offshore beginning late on Mon, but especially on Tue. The disturbance off the Carolinas coast will rotate inland into the Mid Atlantic/OH Valley into Tue. High pressure builds overhead on Mon before shifting offshore Mon night into Tue, but still nudges into the region. Dry and quiet weather anticipated through this timeframe with high pressure continuing to dominate the weather. Big question for both AMs will be the stratus/fog development. Given the E to SE/S increase in moisture this should really amplify the risk, especially on Tue. Think on Mon would most likely be radiation fog. High temps both days ranging from the 70s to mid 80s. Wednesday through Friday... Ridge axis continues to shift further offshore, with a broad trough/upper low overhead from the disturbance previously mentioned. Overall not certain how things will evolve with this feature with how north it traverses and if/when it dives further south. At this point have fairly heavily leaned toward the latest NBM guidance given the uncertainty. This is likely the next opportunity for more widespread rain showers. The big question is how far north/northeast does the upper low lift and the moisture plume associated with it. There are considerable differences amongst deterministic guidance at this point with the GFS/GEM bringing the 1.5 to 2+ inch PWATs overhead Wed into Thu, whereas the ECWMF keeps this moisture locked more to the south of our region. Warm cloud layer depths would be between 3-4.5 km, which would bring more warm rain processes, though there appears to be little instability to work with at this point. Both the NAEFS/EPS guidance showing a tight PWAT gradient as well per the Situational Awareness Table, but the elevated 1.5-2 STD anomalies generally remain to our south. Can also see differences between ensemble systems where the GEFS generally keeps any heavier precip to the south as opposed to the GEPS/EPS. There are nil probs of 24 hr QPF AOA 1" for the GEFS guidance through this timeframe for southern New England, whereas the GEPS/EPS have low (10-30 percent) probs. Something to keep an eye on in the coming days. Given the prolonged easterly flow during this timeframe will see our temps generally near to cooler than seasonable. && .AVIATION /00Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
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Forecast Confidence Levels: Low - less than 30 percent. Moderate - 30 to 60 percent. High - greater than 60 percent. Through Tonight...High confidence in trends, moderate in exact timing. VFR for most to start this evening, but BOS/FMH/HYA already have IFR stratus overhead/nearby. Should see this stratus/fog expanding south and westward as the night progresses for much of the region per latest NAMNest guidance (handling current situation quite well). Could perhaps see it stay east of BDL/BAF, but fairly confident rest of terminals at some point will go IFR. Patchy fog develops at BAF roughly 06-09Z. Light winds. Sunday...High confidence. Will rapidly improve to VFR as stratus/fog erodes roughly 12-15Z. Lingering the longest for Cape/Islands. Mainly E wind 5-10 kt, but shifting to SE/S late in the day. Sunday night...High confidence. Mainly VFR, but patchy late night IFR fog/stratus may develop in the CT valley. KBOS TAF...High confidence. IFR stratus/fog persists overnight, but will rapidly improve roughly 12-14Z to VFR. Only ink in the ointment overnight is how low visibilities get with fog development and onshore flow. For now have stuck with MVFR. Sea breeze developing again around 14-16Z KBDL TAF...High confidence in TAF. Mainly VFR. A period of stratus is possible overnight (early as 06-09Z) but confidence is low so did not include in TAF. Outlook /Monday through Thursday/... Monday through Tuesday: VFR. Tuesday Night: VFR. Slight chance SHRA. Wednesday through Wednesday Night: Mainly VFR, with local IFR possible. Chance SHRA. Thursday: MVFR/IFR conditions possible. Slight chance SHRA.
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&& .MARINE... Forecaster Confidence Levels: Low - less than 30 percent. Medium - 30 to 60 percent. High - greater than 60 percent. Through Sunday night: High Confidence. Tranquil boating conditions with winds, mostly E-SE, and seas below SCA levels. Vsbys may be reduced in developing fog overnight. Outlook /Monday through Thursday/... Monday through Tuesday: Winds less than 25 kt. Tuesday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Seas locally approaching 5 ft. Slight chance of rain showers. Wednesday: Winds less than 25 kt. Seas locally approaching 5 ft. Chance of rain showers. Wednesday Night through Thursday: Winds less than 25 kt. Areas of seas approaching 5 ft. Chance of rain showers. && .BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...None. MA...None. RI...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...KJC/BL NEAR TERM...KJC/BL SHORT TERM...KJC LONG TERM...BL AVIATION...KJC/BL MARINE...KJC/BL